Daddy
When a seasoned criminal gets a chance at freedom, he must reconnect with his daughter — before their fragile bond is broken.
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Paul ThornhillWriter
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Project Type:Short Script
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Genres:Crime, Drama, Family
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Number of Pages:7
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Language:English
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First-time Screenwriter:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Melbourne International Screenplay Awards 2025https://www.misawards.com.au/
Award Winner - Best Short Screenplay -
Madrid Shorts Film Festival 2025https://spainfilmfestival.com/results/#2024-2025-award-winners
Award Winner - Best Short Screenplay -
Budapest Short Cut Film Festival 2026https://hungaryfest.com/festival-award-winners/
Award Winner - Best Screenplay
Daddy explores love expressed in the smallest possible gestures. It lives entirely in silence. In a hand reaching through glass, in a father’s stillness, and in the space where words fail us. The most profound connections often occur without dialogue. The film is a meditation on fatherhood, guilt and unconditional love.
It’s a story about a father’s journey toward redemption, though not in a conventional sense. His journey is about presence, about sitting with someone he loves even when he doesn't know how to fix the world around him. His daughter doesn't speak, not because she lacks a voice, but because their relationship exists in gesture rather than language.
In the final moment, when she reaches out through the glass, I wanted the story to reveal that love can be understood without words. The silence between them becomes the bridge they’ve been searching for.
With a small cast, intimate locations and a highly visual storytelling approach, Daddy is designed for a modest budget while offering powerful emotional impact. It’s a simple film, but one that I believe can resonate deeply with audiences.